Binder folder



Nown, 1942. L w, KARLEN 2,302,035

. BINDER FOLDER Filed July 16, 1940 Paten tecl Nov. 17, 1 942 UNITED STATES PATENT (or-rice Y BINDER FOLDER- Louis W. Karlen, Eggertsville,fN.--.assignorto RemingtonBand Ina, Buffalo, N; Y.

Application 16, 1940, Serial No. 345,741 4 Claims. (01. 129-25) This invention relates to binder folders, particularly the type having intermediate sheets between the covers for dividing and supporting papers'in separate groups.

The invention'provides a binder folder havin front and back covers one of which may be provided with an index tab, and intermediate sheets fordividing the folder up into a'series of sections for independent filing of papersbetween and on both sides of the intermediate sheets. The intermediate sheets may be of less dimension than the covers' and arranged with one edge of each sheet offset inwardly from the adjacent edge of the covers to,provide spaceforindex tabs on the intermediate sheets arranged in stepped or offset relation where more than one intermediate sheet is used" for appropriate-indexing of the papers filed on the differentsheets in the folder without interfering with the index on the folder tab.

The invention also comprehends the provision of anflintermediate supporting sheet having one edge recessed to provide an edge spaced inwardly from the edge of the sheet, a fastener being mounted on said edge in said recess for filing papers thereon with the margins of said papers extending over said recess but not beyond the edge of said sheet.

The invention furthercomprehends the combination of a bendable prong fastener provided on the marginal portion of a supporting sheet in a recess formed in the edge thereof; said fastener having a base portion-folded over the edge of the sheet to provide sections on opposite faces of the supporting sheet formed with bendable groups oneach side'of the supporting sheet carried-by each base section. The arrangementsupports independent groups of papers on opposite sides of said supporting sheet while the folded fastener base provides a convenient structure for attaching thej fastener "to the sheet in 'saidrecess so that the papers on the prongs-onboth sides do nothave the edges extend beyond the edges of the supporting sheet; 7 I

The invention further comprehends' the 'provlsion'of a binder folder wherein the covers and the intermediate.supporting-sheets are secured together along one margin by'a plurality of flexible stripsarranged so tha't oneof the strips has apai-r-of opposite edges attached tothe covers of the folder providinglan intermediate section that maybeformed with a plurality of folds to. -provide for :contraction and expansion 1 of the folder to hold a variable amountof papers therein. The

site margins "attached to the inner marginal portions of the cover sheets and adjacent-intermediate supporting sheets or between adjacent intermediate supporting sheets while the central portions of the strips are-secured tothe outer strip member for cooperation to form-flexible intermediate sections "between the intermediate supporting sheets and the outer covers taprovide an expansible folder structure-wherein all of the intermediate sheets and covers are readily movable to open-or closed positions relative to each other. This will provide for the opening of the folder betWeen-anytwo intermediate sheets or; between 'any intermediate sheet and-the covers.- I

In the drawing:

Fig.-l shows thefolder with the covers open in perspective.

Fig. 2 is across-section on on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of an intermediate sheet illustrating a fastener applied to a larger scale taken the recessed marginal portion at.v the upper 'end thereofwith a different means for attaching the fastener to the sheet than the structure shown in-Fig. 2.

Fig, 4 is a'cross-sectionona larger scale on line'4-4 of Fig. 3. 1 i

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another-means for attaching'the fastener to the recessed portion of the intermediate sheet;

Fig. 6 isa cross-sectionona largerscale taken on-line 66 of Fig. 5. a r i Fig. 7 is a fragmentary-end elevation of the folder shown in Figolflop'ened out into a partially expanded positionand. shown on an en: larg'ed scale, for illustrating the binding means for binding the intermediate and cover sheets together. i l

Fig. 8 -is -a'detailed fragmentary cross-section taken on-line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

A-pluralityof supporting sheets are provided for'forming thefolder of the present invention which maybe of pressboard, cardboard or-other suitable material, These sheets are used to provide a front cover l, back coveri2' and one or more intermediate supporting sheets .3.. One of the covers is preferably providedwith an index tab, the back cover 2 being illustrated asbeing provided with tab 4 formed as an integral part of .thecover. It is to be understood, however. that any other type of index tab well known'in the art may be used instead .of an integral tab.

Each intermediate supporting sheet is of a size taken other strips areformedto provideapair of ,oppo- 5 so that one dimension is .less than the corresponding dimension of the covers. Each cover 1 and 2 and supporting sheet 3 is arranged with three sides in substantially coincident relation and the opposite side of each intermediate supporting sheet 3 is offset inwardly from the adjacent side of the covers l and 2. This provides a space within the covers along the free edge of each supporting sheet for receiving an index tab indicated at 5 in the drawing as being an integral projection on each supporting sheet. However, any other type of tab construction well known in the art may be used in place of an integral tab. Where more than one intermediate supporting sheet 3 is provided in between the coversof the folder, the tabs on each sheet will be offset 'along the edge of the sheet as illustrated in the drawme so that the indexes on each tab will be visible upon opening the folder. Each intermediate supporting sheet 3 is formed with a recess 1 extending inwardly from one edge as illustrated in the drawing so as to provide an edge on one side of the sheet spaced inwardly from the remainder of the edge portion of the sheet. This provides a structure wherein papers to be filed in the folder may have their edges arranged to extend. along the edge of intermediate sheet 3 formed with the recess and to extend over said recess. This provides for the use of any suitable form of fastener This folder construction particularly with the fasteners mounted in the recesses on the intermediate sheet provides a fastener and intermediate sheet structure wherein only two thicknesses of metal are needed in the fastener to secure it to the intermediate sheet and still provides separate sets of prongs for supporting two separate groups of sheets on opposite sides of an intermediate sheet thereby providing a structure that has a minimum build-up. It is desirable to keep build-up to a minimum due to the fact that the accumulation of extra thicknesses of metal and paper in the folder structure reduces the amount of space in filing cabinet drawers for each additional thickness of fastener metal and paper. With the present structure this is held to a minimum, in view of the fact that papers are filed on both sides of the intermediate supporting sheets and the fastener metal is maintained at a single thickness for each set of papers filed in the folder. It is to be understood that in maintaining this single thickness of metal for the fastener for each set of papers that in the filing operation of placing papers on the bendable prongs of each fastener, the free ends of the prongs will be bent outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1 over the top portion of the filed papers. By using a fastener and recessed intermediate supporting sheet structure as disclosed in the drawing, two sets of papers are supported on one intermediate sheet while a single set of papers can be supported on the inside of each cover of the folder, therebymaking maximum use of a folder for supporting and filing a'plurality of independent groups of papers. 7

Itis desirable to provide the folder with suitable bendable prong paper fasteners and it is particularly desirable to provide fasteners on the intermediate supporting sheet that will uniformly support papers on both sides of each intermediate sheet 3. This necessitates the provision of a fastener designed so that it will have prongs on each side of an intermediate supporting sheet 3 arranged in uniform relation so that the papers on one side of a supporting sheet will be in substantially coincident relation with those on the other. For this purpose a fastener 8 having a base portion formed to provide sections l0 and I I connected by a central fold portion of the sheet metal forming the fastener base. The fastener base is engaged over the edge of an intermediate supporting sheet 3 in recess 1 with base sections Ill and H in superimposed relation to each other on opposite faces of intermediate supporting sheet 3. Each base section [0 and l l is formed at the ends of bendable projecting prongs l2. Prongs [2 are shown in the drawing as extending from ends of each base section and arranged so that a pair of prongs is on each side of intermediate supporting sheet 3 for receiving and impaling papers thereon.

The paper fastener has base section I0 formed with a plurality of openings l3 and the portions of section I I in alignment with openings I3 are offset laterally with a punch or the like to provide beads or projections I4 that offset intermediate supporting sheet 3 into openings l3 for rigidly attaching fastener 8 to supporting sheet 3.

In applying papers to a bendable prong fastener like fastener 8 applied on the edge of the sheet in the recess, it is customary to provide openings in each sheet to receive the fastener prong in which the openings are arranged inwardly from the adjacent edge of the sheet. This provides a structure wherein papers filed on the fastener prongs of a each intermediate supporting sheet has the upper ends projecting into recess 1 so that the papers may be conveniently grasped on opposite sides in recess 1 for bodily application to or removal from intermediate supporting sheet 3. Upon opening the folder the examination of recesses 1 will also indicate whether papers are filed on both sides of each supporting sheet.

The provision of fastener 8 constructed as above described and of intermediate supporting sheet 3 with recess 1 provides a cooperation between sheet 3 and fastener 8 which facilitates the use of a fastener constructed as fastener '8 is formed and applied to sheet 3 as above described, at the same time supporting the papers in such position that the upper ends do not extend beyond the ends of supporting sheet 3 or foldercovers I and 2. With a folder constructed in this manner, a plurality of groups of independent papers may be filed on each set of fastener prongs and arranged so that an independent group of papers is mounted on each side of each intermediate supporting sheet. The covers may be provided on the inside with bendable prong fasteners of a desirable character for supporting an independent group of papers on the inside of each cover.

-With the index tabs on each intermediate supporting sheet properly indexed for referenceto the papers carried thereon and the index tab on the folder indexed for all of the papers contained therein, itwill be seen that an efficient folder construction is provided for individually indexing the papers on each fastener.

nates waste in the manufacture of the fastener from suitable sheet metal through providing the openings in one base section for receiving the offset beads or projections of the opposite base section in obtaining the clamping action for securing the fastener to a suitable support sheet.

The fastener may also be constructed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the fastener indicated at I5 is formed to provide a pair of opposed sections joined along one edge by a fold line to provide a folded fastener base in which the free edges of one orboth base sections are bent inwardly as indicated at I6 to bite into the paper forming the intermediate supporting sheets andthereby firmly attach the fastener base to the supporting sheet. Prongs are formed in pairs at the ends of each base section in the same manner as in the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Another manner by which the fastener base may be constructed is to provide a pair of sections joined by a fold portion so that each section can be arranged on opposite faces of the intermediate supporting sheet 3 as hereinabove described. Each base section is then formed with a plurality of openings in aligned relation to register with openings formed in the marginal portion of intermediate sheet 3 along the edge of adjoining recess I as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Tubular or other types of rivets I! may then be inserted and riveted into said openings on opposite sides of the base sections of said fastener for rigidly securing it to intermediate sheet 3.

In binding intermediate sheet 3 together with covers I and 2 for the purpose of providing a binder folder that will house a substantial group of sheets on the covers and intermediate sheets, it is desirable to provide for expansion. between the intermediate sheets and covers as the groups of filed papers in the folder increase in number. For this purpose, the sheets are bound together along one margin by a plurality of flexible fabric or other similar strips. An outer strip I8 has a pair of opposite margins suitably secured by adhesive, or the like, to the inner margins of covers I and 2. The margins at the ends of the strip are folded inwardly as indicated at I9 around the edges of the covers and over the inner face of the strip in between the covers to provide a neat finish at the ends of the folder. A plurality of inner strip sections are indicated at 20. These strip Sections have a pair of opposite margins adhesively secured to intermediate sheets 3 and the inner edges of covers I and 2, in the manner indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 and the intermediate portions thereof adhesively secured to the inner surface of outer strip I8 to complete the binding of the intermediate supporting sheets and covers I and 2 in forming a complete binder folder. These strips I8 and 20 in assembled relation are flexible and may be folded in the manner indicated in Fig. 7 to allow the covers and intermediate sheets to be collapsed in the contact with one another for compressing the folder to take up a minimum of space, while as the papers filed in the folder increase, these binding strips may be flexed to allow separation of the covers and intermediate sheets relative to one another to the limit of their width between the respective covers and intermediate sheets.

The invention thereby provides an inexpensive and eificient folder for uniformly housing a plurality of independent groups of sheets on separate fastener prongs in coincident superimposed relation wherein the build-up in the folder is maintained at a minimum.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a multiple binder folder, an intermediate sheet formed with a recess in one margin whereby the ends of papers filed on each side of said intermediate sheet normally project beyond the inner edge of the recess in said intermediate sheet, and means straddling the edge of said intermediate sheet in said recess for fastening said papers to said intermediate sheet at both sides thereof.

2. A binder folder comprising a supporting sheet formed with a recess extending inwardly from an edge thereof, and a bendable prong fastener having a sheet metal base folded in its central portion around the edge of said supporting sheet in said recess providing base sections on opposite sides of said sheet in superimposed relation, bendable paper impaling prongs on each base section for supporting papers on each side of said sheet, one of said base sections having a plurality of openings formed therein and the other base section having the portions aligned with said openings formed into projections extending toward said openings for firmly attaching said fastener to said sheet.

3. A binder folder comprising a supporting sheet having a recess formed in one margin whereby the ends of papers filed on each side of said intermediate sheet normally project beyond the inner edge of the recess in said sheet, a bendable prong fastener having a base folded to straddle the edge of said sheet in said recess and provide base sections engaging opposite faces of said sheet, and means within the margins of said base sections cooperating to rigidly retain said base on said sheet without increasing the composite thickness of said fo er o n extent greater than the thickness of said sheet and said base section at each side of said sheet, the bendable prongs of said fastener being arranged on each base section for impaling the papers at opposite sides of said sheet.

4. In a multiple binder folder comprising a plurality of supporting sheets providing front and back covers and an intermediate sheet having an edge portion terminating in inwardly spaced relation relative to the corresponding edge of said covers to provide an open end portion in said folder between said covers, a structure comprising means straddling said edge portion of said intermediate sheet engaging opposite faces of said intermediate sheet and carrying bendable prong fasteners for securing papers in independent groups on opposite sides of said intermediate sheet, whereby papers filed in the folder project beyond the edge portion of said inter- 

